Entertainment

Propping Up Your iPad: 3 Stands for Watching Video in Bed [REVIEW]

The iPad is great for reading and browsing, but it's even better for watching video in bed. We got our hands on three iPad accessories that can also act as stands, propping up your iPad so you can you watch video hands-free.

Before you start snickering about the whole bed thing, think of how often you might want to stop holding your heavy iPad and just have it sitting next to you on a stable platform. For instance, imagine travelers, weary from their voyages and plopping down on a hotel room bed. What they need is a video — and not one chosen by the hotel but one of their own choosing. What could be better than propping up your iPad on the bed next to you and settling in for a favorite movie?

My significant other and I have discovered a good-enough portable home theater, where we listen to the iPad's audio on a Bluetooth speaker and prop up the iPad 2 on the bed between us. It's great for watching movies, especially if you have a stand that's up for the task, giving you the stability and the correct viewing angle you'll need for such pursuits.

iPad Stands for Watching Video in Bed

Apple iPad Smart Cover

Apple's iPad Smart Cover is an elegant protective device, but it also functions as a stand if you fold up its cover into a triangular shape.

We love the way it preserves the beautiful industrial design of the iPad 2 (it doesn't work with the original iPad), still letting you see its curves while protecting its screen. As you remove it from the iPad's screen, it turns on and turns off as you place the cover on top of the screen. It all works with magnets, and although it falls short of being magical, it's clever.

Smart Cover Propping Up an iPad 2

But how good is it as a stand for watching video in bed? Not very good. It's not stable enough. Its angle leans too far forward. It's better at propping up the back of the iPad if you want to type on it, though.

If you want to go beyond video watching, however, you can't prop up your iPad in portrait orientation with this cover.

Smart Cover, Leather Version

If you want to use this for bed video viewing, save your $69 (for the leather version or $39 for plastic). It will work, but it's not stable enough for our taste. Nor does it offer protection to the back of the iPad, leaving it vulnerable to scratches.

Element Case Chroma Joule iPad Stand

The Chroma Joule doesn't claim to protect your iPad at all, it simply stands it up at your choice of three useful angles, from near-vertical to near-horizontal.

This year's model works with both the original iPad and the iPad 2, and offers new colors, albeit at a high price -- $150 for your choice of blue, red, pink, silver, black or orange anodized aluminum.

Last year's models are still available at $139 for a satin silver or black finish, and $129 for plain machined aluminum finish.

Chroma Joule Back

Even though this 11.9-ounce stand costs about twice as much as it should, it's stable enough for even the most rambunctious video watching in bed.

Joule Accommodating a Motorola Xoom

Motorola Xoom users aren't left out -- the Xoom tablet also fits into this Chroma Joule stand but only in portrait mode. No such luck with landscape mode -- the Xoom is a bit thick in the middle for that.

Carrying Case

Chroma Joule even comes with its own carrying case, where that stabilizing arm fits into the slot where the iPad goes, all fitting into this smart-looking zippered container.

Targus Versavu 360° Rotating Stand Case

Here's a more conventional leather case that offers complete protection for your iPad while also acting as a stable platform.

This $60 case/stand only fits the iPad 2, but there are others that fit the original iPad. In fact, this Chinese-made case (aren't they all?) is available under many brand names (we mentioned another case just like it in our case overview), but they're all basically the same sensible design.

One weird aspect we noticed -- and many others have, too -- is a strong smell of solvent when we first opened its package. A couple of weeks later, the strong odor has subsided to a faint scent, but we must wonder -- what is that smell, and is it going to hurt us?

Stable Platform

This is one solid place to put your iPad when you want to watch some video in the sack.

Back of the Case

Not that we care that much about the Apple logo, but fanboys will love the way they can still display that object of their desire even while the iPad is ensconced in leather.

Versavu 360

You can turn the case around to its portrait orientation easily. However, we noticed that when the iPad is placed in portrait view like this, it's not as stable as its landscape orientation.

Verdict: Apple's Smart Cover has the most ingenious design of the bunch, but it doesn't offer enough stability for bed video viewing. If you do a lot of that, this wouldn't be the best choice.

The Targus leather case is the most versatile of the group, offering solid protection for your expensive tablet as well as a stable viewing platform. However, that weird smell worries us a little, and it's not stable enough when you spin your iPad into its portrait orientation.

The best, most stable device for bed video viewing with the iPad is the Joule stand, holding the tablet in either portrait or landscape mode in its padded slot, orienting it at three angles that are all useful. Its price is exorbitant, though -- look for it on sale.

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